Copywriter attachment for typewriters



Feb. 26, 1935. Q THORNBLADE 1,992,405

COPYWRITER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 21, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet l gum r to; Car/Hugo Thornbiade Feb. 26, 1935. c. H.THORNBLADE COPYWRITER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 21,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Carlfiugo Tlzambhc W Y W Feb. 26, 1935.

c. H. THORNBLADE 1,992,405

GOPYWRITER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Original Filed Oct. 21, 1929 3Sheets -Sheet 3 C a1"! Hugo Thorzzblade 39 Patented Feb. 26, 1935 PATENTOFFICE oorvwnrrnn ATTACHMENT ron 'rrrawnl'raas Carl Hugo Thornblade,

to Original Copywriter Company,

Seattle, Wash., assignor Seattle,

Wash., a corporation of Washington Application October 21, 1929, SerialNo. 401,202 Renewed April 24, 1934 19 Claims.

My invention relates to typewriters, billing machines, and in general toall machines of this class in which duplicated records are required.More particularly, my invention relates to an attachment or mechanismdesigned for application to typewriting machines of ordinary design,whereby additional printing ribbons may be placed between the papersheets, so that more than one copy may be made at one time, alloriginals, in the sense that all are written in ink, as is the firstcopy when carbon sheets are employed in the customary practice. Myinvention is an improvement upon that disclosed in my Patent No.1,707,744.

It adds considerably to the complexity of such devices to provide inthem a means to feed such ribbons continuously, as the regulartypewriter ribbon is fed, hence one of the especial objects of mypresent invention is the provision of means for storing and feedinglengths of ribbon which are intended to be positioned in front of atypewriter platen, or the printing point thereof, so that a used portionof ribbon may be quickly and easily removed at will, and manually fromprinting position, and a fresh section brought into position, withoutthe necessity of detaching and inserting a wholly new piece of ribbon,and without soiling the fingers.

It is a further object, in connection with devices of the generalcharacter described above, and which have means for removing the ribbonfrom operative or printing position, to provide take-up means, actingconstantly to take up any slack in the ribbon which may be caused bymovement from one position to the other, or otherwise, yet which willnot interfere with the feeding, and, furthermore, to provide in suchtake-up means a device which will not permit the spring which forms thebasis of the take-up mechanism to become too tightly tensioned.

It is a further object to provide a device of this character wherein twoor more ribbons may be used, these involving a storage means for eachend of the ribbon, and to provide means whereby the several ribbons areso threaded and guided with respect to one another that neither oneinterferes with the feeding of the others.

It is a further object to provide, in connection with printing ribbonsintended for making carbon copies, of the general-type described, meanswhereby a shield ribbon may be interposed between the original copy, orany other copy, and the sheet next below the same, to avoid printingwith the ribbon on the reverse side of the original sheet, and toprovide means whereby such a shield ribbon may be removed from operativeposition whenever this may be desirable.

Various other objects, more particularly concemed with mechanicaldetails of my invention, will be ascertainable from a study of theaccompanying drawings, of the specification, and the claims whichterminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in a form whichis now preferred by me.

, Figure 1 is a general end elevation of my device, attached to atypewriter carriage, with parts of the casing broken away.

Figure 2 is a general plan view of my device, parts at one end beingomitted and others being broken away, to show the interior construction.Y

Figure 3 is a general transverse section through my device.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of one of the simple forms of myribbon guide mechanism, and Figure 5 is a similar view of a furtherform, illustrating particularly the shield ribbon and its mounting.

Figure 6 is a general axial view through one of the storage reels andthe take-up mechanism associated therewith.

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 are transverse sectional views, on therespective lines 77, 8-8, 99 and 10-10 of Figure 6.

My invention contemplates no change in the typewriter itself, but for acomplete understanding of my invention it is necessary that reference bemade to certain typewriter parts. Of these," the platen 9 is supportedupon the carriage 90 to move transversely oi the frame 91, and since theribbon 1 must be always held in front of the writing point, which isusually at the middle of the intermediate position of the platen 9 andcarriage 90, and must be adapted for insertion between sheets of paperheld to the platen, it is most convenient to support the ribbon, and allassociated mechanism, upon the carriage 90. This is convenientlyaccomplished by mounting the ribbon guides, controls, and storage reelsupon a frame 2, which is supported upon a base 20, the latter beingsecured in any suitable fashion upon the carriage 90. The frame 2 may bepivotally mounted upon the base 20, so that it may swing back upon thisbase into inoperative position, as is best illustrated by dotted linesin Figure 1, but this is not an essential part of the present invention.The ribbon 1 is not to be confused with the usual typewriter ribbon, forit does not supplant the same, nor does it perform the same function.Rather, it is held in front of the platen, stretching across the wholeface thereof, in advance of that portionof the platen which will passbeneath the printing point, and it moves with the carriage. By placing asheet of paper over the ribbon, with a shield of some sort between itand the ribbon, and by placing a second sheet beneath the ribbon andbetween it and the platen 9, it is possible to obtain a perfect ribboncopy of the original letter typed on the first sheet.

Such ribbons as shown in my former patent referred to above become wornin a comparatively short space of time, and it is desirable that meanshe provided for feeding the ribbon from time to time. This involves astorage means for lengths of the ribbon, so that one section at a timemay be'exposed, and the used section may wound off and a new sectionplaced in operative position. Since the ribbons will re-ink themselvesby contact with other portions of the ribbon, it is desirable that theused section of ribbon be: not simply cut off and thrown away, butstored up and used over again after it has had-an opportunity to re-inkitself. Accordingly, from all of these considerations, the mostsatisfactory storage means for the ribbon is apair of drums or reels,and these I will now describe. It should be noted here, however, that attimes it may be desirable to make more than one carbon copy. and forthat reason I have shown a device wherein two ribbons l and 1' areemployed, these requiring the use of two-pairs' o'f reels. The numbercan be increased, within reason.

Since the construction of all of these reels is or may be identical, itwill be necessary to describe only one of them. The construction ofthese reels is shown in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive. A spindle 30 issecured in and projects inwardly from the frame 2, and upon this spindleis secured a disk 31,- forming one end flange of the reel. .This disk isfree to rotate, except as it may be held in position by some frictionalmeans such as the spring washer 32. A threaded collar 33 screwed uponthe spindle 30 holds the disk 31 upon the spindle. A drum 3,'with asmall flange 34 rotatable therewith throughthe engagement of a tongue 34within a hole in the-end of the drum, receives the ribbon. Between thecupped disk 31 and flange 34 there is provided a space within which maybe coiled aispiral spring 35. One end of this spring is anchoredsemi-permanently, and this anchoring means-may be a tab,

or ear 36 struck out from the metal in the flange 34, over whichtheinner end of the spring 35 is hooked (see Figure 8). The other end ofthis spring 35 has a knob 35' formed thereon, and this normally contactswith a shoulder upon the short length of spring 37, received in thespace between the disk 31 and the end flange 34 to form the anchor forthe outside end of the spring 35. The opposite end flange 38, associatedwith and rotatable with the drum 3, is held in place by a nut 39 screwedupon the spindle 30 and having a long sleeve 39' forming the journal forthe drum.

It will be evident that since the drum 3 and the end flange 34 areconnected to rotate to gether, through the medium of the tongue 34', anytension on the ribbon 1 will serve to tension the spring 35, since thedisk 31 does not rotate in response to tension communicated through theribbon 1. Upon release of the tension, the

. spring 35 at once takes up the slack in the ribbon. Should the tensionbe greater than normal, the knob 35' will slip past the shoulder on theshort holding spring 37, and will be again intercepted by an oppositeshoulder, but in this movement there is permitted the release of a smallamount of the tension on the spring 35 which will prevent its breaking.A further safeguard is found in the fact that the disk 31 may slip ifthe force is sufficient to overcome the frictional force of the washer32.

Should it be desired to feed out the ribbon, it is only necessary, atsuch times as tension 'is put upon the ribbon, to rotate the disk 31backward, thus relieving the tendency to tension the spring 35. Shouldit be desired to wind on the ribbon 1, .it becomes necessary, then, towind in the disk 31also, to compensate for the added slackness in thespring 35 thus obtained. Since the ribbon connects these reels in pairs,it is only necessary, when feeding from one reel to the other, to rotatethedisks 31, one in one direction, and the other in the oppositedirection, relieving tension in one reel and taking it up in the other.

At times it is not desirable or necessary to use the ribbons, and atsuch times it is necessary that they be drawn out of their operativeposition. I may employ such means as those shown in my former patent foraccomplishing this end, these consisting, in the main, of means forholding or guiding the opposite ends of the operative portion of theribbon, such as the ribbon guides 4, supported upon blocks40, thesebeing vertically slidable upon guide rods 41, carried in the frame 2.

. Movement of the blocks 40 is controlled by some such means as the arms42 and 43, pivoted at the rear end of the frame 2 and operable by thefinger buttons 42' and 43', the latter being connected to its arm 43 bymeans of a secondarm 44, which is secured to the same sleeve 45 as thatwhich carries the arm 43. To secure uniformity of action at both ends ofmy device, the arms 43 and 44 may be connected through from one end tothe otherby such means as the rod 46 and the concentric sleeve 45, uponwhich like arms may be secured at the two ends of the device.Preferably, however, the finger buttons 42' and 43'. are not duplicated.These buttons move in slots 24 of the frame 2 (see Figure 1).

It will be noted that the connection of the rib bon guide 4 to itscorresponding blocks 40 is through aset screw and slot connection 47(see Figures 4 and 5). It will be noted, also, that this adjustment,permitting exact positioning of the ribbon with respect to the printingpoint of the platen, is complemented by a set collar 48, supported uponthe rod 41, at least at the. same end where are located the fingerbuttons 42' and 43'. By these collars the downward movement of theblocks 40, and hence the connecting ribbon guides 4, may be limited.

The shield ribbon 5 may be best seen in Figure 5. It would be employed,ordinarily, only with the forward ribbon 1, and since it may be madestrong and not liable to wear out quickly, and of course does notrequire inking, it may be a permanently or semi-permanently attachedribbon. It is shown as supported upon an arm" 50, pivoted at 51 upon theblocks 40, or the guide piece 4, the ribbon having a hook 52 hookingover the swinging end of the arm 50. By these or any other convenientmeans the shield ribbon 5 may be swung out of the way when not required,or swung down in front of the ribbon 1 whenever that is necessary, and,being mounted upon the same piece as carries the ribbon guide, theposition of the shield ribbon will always coincide.

perfectly with that of the ribbon which it is shielding. In Figure 4 isshown a means whereby the shield ribbon may be. directly mounted uponthe ribbon guide 4, this means consisting of teeth 55 cut in its outeredge. Such an arrangement is particularly useful with the ribbonsbeneath the outermost, with which it is not practicable to use aswinging arm such as 50, and with which it is not usually necessary touse a shield ribbon. By these or like means a shield ribbon may bequickly attached when needed, and as quickly detached.

As has been noted, two reels are provided at each end, these beingconnected across in pairs, and preferably one of these reels lies inadvance of the other. To avoid interference of one reel, or the ribbonleading therefrom, when replacing one ribbon with another, it isdesirable that the ribbon from the rear reel be guided under the forwardribbon, and for that purpose I have shown guide means, consisting of thepins 6, 60, and 61, guiding the ribbon 1' from the rear reel under theforward reel, and thence down to its ribbon guides 4. The ribbon 1 fromthe forward reel leadsdirectly forward to a similar guide pin 62, andthence down as before to the ribbon guides 4.

Movement of the ribbon guides 4 up and down from operative position andagain thereinto causes lengthening and shortening of the ribbon, whichis compensatedfor by the take-up devices provided within the severalreels. This is all automatic, and requires no attention on the part ofthe operator. To change the piece of ribbon in operative position, andto bring a fresh piece of ribbon into position for operation, requiresonly the feeding on and feeding off of the reels of a pair, in themanner heretofore described. Too much tensioning of the take-up springis scarcely possible, because of the means for permitting slippage,which has been already described, and since the remainder of the deviceis designed and operates more or less after the manner of that shown inmy patent, I do not deem it necessary to describe the operation thereofin further detail.

A paper finger 95 is conveniently supported from behind the platen andin the rear of the vertical paths of movement of the ribbons, in lieu ofthe finger usually supported forwardly of the platen, since the latterwould at times interfere with free operation of the ribbons. The finger95 is shown as pivotally supported at 96 from a hollow spacer 49extending between the two frames 2 and enclosing the sleeve 45 and rod46.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a typewriter carriage and platen, two reelssupported one at each end of said typewriter carriage, a ribbon havingone end wound upon each reel, continuously operable ribbon take-up meansassociated with each of said reels, and ribbon guide means operable toposition the ribbon, between reels, in advance of the typewriter platen.

2. In combination with a typewriter carriage and platen, two reelssupported one at each end of said typewriter carriage, a ribbon havingone end wound upon each reel, continuously operable ribbon take-up meansassociated with each of said reels, ribbon guide means operable toposition the ribbon, between reels, in advance of the typewriter platen,and means for moving said ribbon at will into inoperative position.

3. In combination with a typewriter carriage and platen, two reelssupported one at each end of saidtypewriter carriage, a ribbon havingone end reels, and ribbon guide means operable to position the severalribbons, between their supporting reels, in advance of the printingpoint.

5. In combination, a plurality of reels, two or more supported at eachend of a typewriter carriage, ribbons connecting reels at opposite endsin pairs, a yieldable, continuously operable ribbon take-up meansassociated with each of said reels, ribbon guide means operable toposition the several ribbons, between their supporting reels,'in advanceof the printing point, and means for moving a selected ribbon, orribbons, at will,'

from such operative position.

6. In combination, a plurality of reels, two or more supported at eachend of a typewriter carriage, ribbons connecting reels at opposite endsin pairs, a yieldable, continuously operable ribbon take-up meansassociated with each of said reels, ribbon guide means operable toposition the several ribbons, between their supporting reels, in advanceof the printing point, means for moving a selected ribbon, or ribbons,at will, from such operative position, and manual feed means associatedwith each of said reels.

7. In combination with a typewriter carriage and platen, two reelssupported one at each end of said typewriter carriage, a ribbon havingone end wound upon each reel, continuously operable ribbon take-up meansassociated with each of said reels, ribbon guide means operable toposition the ribbon, between reels, in advance of the typewriter platen,means for moving said ribbon at will into inoperative position, andadjustable means for stopping said ribbon in precise operative position.

8. The combination of claim 1, said reel and take-up means including atwo-part reel, a takeup spring interposed between said parts to turn onerelative to the other, and releasable means normally maintaining thelatter part fixed in position, but operable to wind on or wind off theribbon to advance the same.

9. The combination of claim 1, said reel and take-up means including atwo-part reel, a takeup spring interposed between said parts to turn onerelative to the other, and releasable means normally maintaining thelatter part fixed in positiombut operable to wind on or wind off theribbon to advance the same, and means operable under tension in thetake-up spring in excess of a selected maximum to permit slippage ofsaid take-up spring.

10. The combination of claim 1, said reel and take-up means comprising aspindle, an end flange rotatable thereon, friction means. to hold saidend flange in a selected position, a drum and second end flangerotatable upon said spindle, a spiral take-up spring, and anchor meansfor said spring upon each of said first end flange and said drum.

11. The combination of claim 1, said reel and take-up means comprising aspindle, an end flange rotatable thereon, .friction means to hold saidend flange in a selected position, a drum and second end flangerotatable upon said spindle, a spiral take-up spring, and anchor meansfor said spring upon each of said first end flange and said drum, one ofsaid anchor means being yieldable to permit slippage of the spring whentensioned in excess of a selected maximum.

12. The combination of claim 1, said reel being formed in two parts, andthe take-up means comprising a spiral spring anchored by its inner endto one part thereof, the outer end of said spring having a knob formedthereon, and a spring dog movable with the other part of said reel andnormally engaging said knob to anchor said spring, but permittingslipping thereof to relieve excess tension.

13. The combination of claim 1, the ribbon guide means comprising guiderods fixed in upright position at each end of the typewriter carriage, ablock guided on each of said rods for movement therealong, slottedplates supported from said blocks, the ribbon being threaded through theslots of said plates, and means for simultaneously moving thecorresponding blocks at each end of the carriage.

14. The combination of claim 1, the ribbon guide means comprising guiderods fixed in upright position at each end of the typewriter carriage, ablock guided on each of said rods for movement therealong, slottedplates supported from said blocks, the ribbon being threaded through theslots of said plates, and means for simultaneously moving thecorresponding blocks at each end of the carriage, and set collars onsaid rods to limit the movement of the blocks and fix the position ofthe ribbon.

15. The combination of claim 4, the reels at each end being disposed onerearwardly of the other, and the ribbon guide means including pinsleading the ribbon carried by the rear pair of rollers beneath theforward reels before passing the printing point. 4

16. In combination with a typewriter platen and a printing ribbon, meansfor guiding said ribbon for movement across theprinting point, storagemeans for the two ends of the ribbon, means for raising and lowering theribbon to maintain it at will in or out of registry with the printingpoint, and means for taking up slack in said ribbon at all times. i

17. In combination with a typewriter platen and a printing ribbon, meansfor guiding said ribbon for movement across the printing point, storagemeans for the two ends of the ribbon, means for raising and lowering theribbon to maintain it at will in or out of registry with the printingpoint, means for taking up slack in said ribbon at all times, and meansfor feeding said ribbon to advance it across the printing point.

18. A device for use in combination with a 20 and a printing ribbon,guide means to position 30 said ribbon in operative position across theprinting face of the platen, storage means for an end of said ribbon,means for moving said ribbon and its guide means into and from suchoperative position, and means for taking up slack in said 3 ribbon atall times and in all positions of the ribbon and guide means.

CARL HUGO THORNBLADE.

